34 AD
3 Nephi 19:9; “And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.”
BC 559 – 545
2 Nephi 31:13-14; “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. 14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.”
Acts 2:4; “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Why did the Nephites have to keep praying for the Holy Ghost’s arrival? Wouldn’t this have already happened the first time they prayed?
Moreover, why weren’t they observing Pentecost, or for that matter, Passover?
Foregoing the fact that God’s Holy Spirit didn’t arrive globally until the day of Pentecost circa 33 AD, the narrative in the BoM is filled with one problem after another.
It’s evident Joe Smith was ignorant of how God’s Holy Spirit worked, and ignorant of historical events taking place in Jerusalem during the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). The rich tradition of observing God’s commandments included being present at the Feast of Weeks which occurred 50 days after Passover.
This is also important because Pentecost in the OT marks the time God gave the Israelites the 10 Commandments. It was 50 days after Passover, the time when God liberated the Israelites from their Egyptian captors.
Note: the image above comes from the Book of Mormon Stories Manual for 3 Nephi 19
THE PARALLEL OF PENTECOST AND PAUL’S CONVERSION BY STEVE FINNELL
What are the parallels of the conversions to Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost and that of the conversion of the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus?
1. At Pentecost they believed Jesus was Lord And Christ.(Acts 2:36)
Paul believe Jesus was Lord.(Acts 9:4-5)
2. At Pentecost they asked what they should do. (Acts 2:37)
Paul asked “Lord what do you want me to do”(Acts 9:6)
3. At Pentecost, the 3000 repented, and were immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins and then they received the gift of the Holy Spirit.(Acts 2:38)
Paul went to Damascus where he was baptized in water for the forgiveness of his sins and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 22:16,Acts 9:17-18)
Paul’s sins were not forgiven “on the road” to Damascus, they were forgiven in Damascus.(Acts 22:10-16)
Paul was not filled with the Holy Spirit “on the road” to Damascus. He was filled with the Holy Spirit in Damascus. (Acts 9:10-19)
Paul believed that Jesus was Lord “on the road’ to Damascus, however, he was not saved from his sins on the road nor was he filled with the Holy Spirit on the road.(Acts 9:3-9)
Paul was saved in Damascus. He was not saved on the road to Damascus. He was NOT SAVED BEFORE HE WAS BAPTIZED IN WATER! You cannot be saved until your sins have been forgiven.
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